Netherlands

The U.S. supplier of automation systems for the PV industry also saw order intake and quarter-end backlog increase in the latest quarter. All of the company’s segments contributed to the turnover growth registered in this period.

Dutch energy company Eneco Group announced its acquisition of a 34% stake in Next Kraftwerke, a German company operating one of Europe’s largest virtual power plant networks. The investment was announced at the Ecosummit cleantech event in Berlin today.

Researchers at the Netherlands’ University of Twente have developed a material comprising thin, diamond-like photonic nanostructures which reflect a surprisingly wide range of colours of light, from all angles. This could make the material ideally suited for use as a back reflector for PV modules.

Tempress systems, a subsidiary of U.S. based Amtech, has received a follow-on order for a multi-phase 1 GW project. The turnkey order is for an n-type bifacial manufacturing line, and includes high throughput PECVD and diffusion platforms.

The Dutch gas provider is building Netherlands’ first MW-sized power-to-gas installation. The plant will be powered by 5,000 solar modules.

The Dutch solar company has launched a plan to build a 300 MW solar module manufacturing facility in Noord-Groningen, northern Netherlands. The factory is expected to begin manufacturing activities in 2018.

Solar dominated the first round of the Netherlands’ 2017 SDE+ program for large-scale renewable energy projects, accounting for 69.4% of all preassigned capacity. Overall, 4,484 PV projects proposals totaling 2,647 MW were accepted.

Equipment manufacturer Tempress has teamed up with Dutch research center ECN to develop a production process for n-type IBC solar cells with efficiency above 21%. A pilot of the new process was completed in just three months, illustrating its compatibility with mass production.

The Dutch power provider has acquired Belgian utility Eni Belgium and a larger share in Belgium’s power market. The company said that it will now invest in new power production in the country, especially in solar and wind.

Eurolab, a sister company of Netherlands-based equipment provider Eurotron, has opened a new testing facility for back-contact PV modules. The laboratory will facilitate pre-production of back-contact solar panels, R&D projects, and small-scale production for solar challenge teams